Saxophonist Eric Alexander joins Lee on location at the Monterey Jazz Festival to sample cuts from his solo album “Second Impression,” from the One For All album “The Third Decade” and from Mike LeDonne & the Groover Quartet’s “That Feelin’.”

#54: Kurt Elling on Branford Marsalis, Christmas Carols and Jon Hendricks

Sep 22nd, 2016 30m 56s

On location at the Monterey Jazz Festival, vocalist extraordinaire Kurt Elling sits in with Lee to sing the praises of Branford Marsalis and his quartet, with whom Kurt has recorded the album "Upward Spiral" and has performed a lot. Kurt also t

#53: Marty Ashby, Bob Mintzer, New York Voices & the Legacy of MCG Jazz

Sep 12th, 2016 41m

Marty Ashby, executive producer of MCG Jazz in Pittsburgh, sits in with Lee to talk about the legacy of Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild as a catalyst for jazz in Pittsburgh and on the national scene. They spin cuts from Grammy-nominated albums fro

#52: JD Allen, Jaimeo Brown, the roots of jazz, socio-political music and the legacy of Miles Davis

Sep 6th, 2016 50m 48s

Jazz writer Bob Blumenthal sits in with JT publisher Lee Mergner to spin cuts from albums by saxophonist JD Allen (“Americana” on Savant) and drummer Jaimeo Brown (“Work Songs” on Motema). They talk about the real African-American roots of jaz

#51: Renee Rosnes, Kenny Barron & Jazz Clubs of the Past

Aug 31st, 2016 40m 29s

Jazz writer Bob Blumenthal joins Lee to spin cuts from albums by two stellar pianists—Renee Rosnes and Kenny Barron. Inspired by the JazzTimes cover story on Seventh Avenue South, a notorious NYC jazz club owned by the Brecker Brothers in the

#50: Matt Wilson on family, loss and memory

Aug 26th, 2016 48m 12s

Drummer and bandleader Matt Wilson sits in with JT publisher Lee Mergner to spin cuts from his new album looking back on his life with his wife Felicia who died of cancer two years ago. The album, Beginning of a Memory, features a band he call

#49: Matt Wilson on Jack DeJohnette and Francisco Mela

Aug 22nd, 2016 52m 45s

Drummer and bandleader Matt Wilson sits in to spin cuts from two recent albums by drummers as leaders – Francisco Mela & the Crash Trio and Jack DeJohnette/Ravi Coltrane/Matthew Garrison. Matt talks about the power of a band that collides into

#48: Daniel Freedman on Imagine That and playing for dancers

Aug 20th, 2016 1h 6m

Drummer and percussionist Daniel Freedman sits in with Lee to spin cuts from his new album Imagine That on Anzic. Daniel talks about his early years in a very musical NYC household where legends such as Max Roach and Charles Mingus were regular

#47: Brandee Younger at the PDX Jazz Festival

Apr 22nd, 2016 25m 12s

Harpist Brandee Younger joins JT's Lee Mergner in a conversation recorded on-site at the PDX Jazz Festival in Portland. They talk about how she picked up that instrument and about the influence and legacy of both Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ash

#46: Orrin Evans, Philly Jazz, Africa Brass and more

Apr 2nd, 2016 47m 59s

Pianist Orrin Evans sits down for a free-wheeling conversation with Lee about performing in Portland at the PDX Jazz Festival, his series at the nightclub South and the challenges of keeping a band together. Orrin and Lee spin a cut from John C

#45: Brandee Younger, Rene Marie and the Great Vinyl Revival

Mar 18th, 2016 42m 26s

Terry Currier, owner of the famous record store Music Millennium in Portland, sits in as guest c0-host to spin cuts from Brandee Younger (from her Wax & Wane CD) and Rene Marie (from her upcoming The Sound of Red CD). Terry and Lee then riff o

#44: Julian Lage, Russell Malone and Cuba

Mar 13th, 2016 43m 36s

Jazz writer Bob Blumenthal sits in to spin cuts from two noted guitarists - Julian Lage and Russell Malone. Then Bob and Lee riff on Cuba and how recent event may affect the music coming from (and to) that country. This episode sponsored by the

#43: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Stan Getz and the state of the album

Mar 8th, 2016 33m 35s

Jazz writer Bob Blumenthal sits in to spin cuts from two recent very special archival releases from Resonance Records - The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra's All My Yesterdays and Stan Getz's Moments in Time. Bob and Lee then riff on what it me

#38: John Scofield, Terri Lyne Carrington & the Portland Jazz scene

Oct 20th, 2015 40m 10s

Long-time jazz industry exec Don Lucoff sits it to spin some contemporary jazz cuts from guitarist John Scofield’s “Past Present” album and the “Love and Soul” album from drummer Terri Lyne Carrington & the Mosaic Project. Don, who produces th

#37: Snarky Puppy, Randy Brecker & predicting the stars of tomorrow

Oct 6th, 2015 39m 39s

Russ Davis of MOJA Radio joins Lee on-site at the Detroit Jazz Festival to spin albums from trumpeter Randy Brecker and the band Snarky Puppy. Russ and Lee riff on the rising stars on the jazz scene. Who among the younger jazz artists will re

#36: Kurt Elling, Dee Dee Bridgewater & Marriage

Jul 13th, 2015 36m 38s

Co-host Rene Marie returns to listen and discuss two new great vocal jazz albums from Kurt Elling ("Passion World") and Dee Dee Bridgewater ("Dee Dee's Feathers"). The two very happily married hosts then riff on the institution of marriage. T

Episode #35: Benny Green, Kenny Werner and the Jazz in Jazz Festivals

Jul 5th, 2015 36m 34s

Jazz writer and author Bob Blumenthal sits in as guest co-host and reacts to spins of new releases from pianists Benny Green and Kenny Werner. Bob and Lee then riff on Bob's involvement with the Discover Jazz Festival in Burlington, Vermont. A

Episode #34: Cassandra Wilson, Strange Fruit, Obama, Charleston, Guns, Confederate Flag and Racism

Jul 1st, 2015 35m 10s

Co-host Rene Marie returns to check out Cassandra Wilson's latest album "Coming Forth By Day" and listen to her version of "Strange Fruit" on that recording as well as on her earlier "New Moon Daughter" album for Blue Note. Rene and Lee riff on

Episode #33: JD Allen, Jon Irabagon & Ornette

Jun 28th, 2015 27m 37s

Guest co-host Bob Blumenthal joins Lee at the JazzTimes office in Braintree, Mass for a saxophone-heavy session. They spin cuts from new albums by JD Allen and Jon Irabagon and then riff on the legacy of Ornette Coleman. This episode is spons

Episode #32: Redoing Iconic Material & Teaching Adults to Play an Instrument

Jun 21st, 2015 52m 45s

JazzTimes publisher Lee Mergner and guest co-host bassist Gerald Veasley preview new releases from Chris Washburne and Jason Miles/Ingrid Jensen and talk about the perils of redoing songs from iconic artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis

Episode #31: Marcus Miller, Steve Gadd and Jazz in South Africa

Jun 15th, 2015 42m 36s

Lee and guest co-host Gerald Veasley preview some funky jazz cuts from new albums by Marcus Miller and Steve Gadd. They riff on jazz and music in South Africa. Episode sponsored by the Newport Jazz Festival.

Episode #27: Catherine Russell, Back-up Singers & Getting the Legend Wrong (or Right)

Jun 14th, 2015

Episode #30: Live in Cape May - Billy Childs' Laura Nyro project, Jamie Cullum, Freddy Cole and how to sing like a MF

Nov 18th, 2014 48m 58s

In this live edition of JazzTimes Spins & Riffs taped at the Exit 0 International Jazz Festival in Cape May, New Jersey, Lee and Rene spin cuts from three recent albums featuring very different vocalists: Allison Krauss (on Billy Childs' Laura

Episode #29: Steven Bernstein & Henry Butler, Dr. John and Interviewing

Oct 14th, 2014 37m 14s

With guest co-host Russ Davis of MOJA radio, Lee spins two new albums with a New Orleans focus, including Henry Butler & Steven Bernstein's "Viper's Drag" and Dr. John's "Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch." Russ & Lee then riff on the art of

Episode #28: Chick Corea and Jazz Festivals with Russ Davis

Oct 7th, 2014 37m 24s

Taped on location at the 2014 Detroit Intl. Jazz Festival, Lee and guest co-host Russ Davis of MOJA Radio spin cuts from two recent Chick Corea albums. Later they riff on what is special about jazz festivals and on some of their favorites. Thi